Concepts of trust and danger,
which are virtually meaningless to a two-year-old, make perfect sense to older
children.
It is critical that parents use
safety instructions appropriate to a child’s age if they want them to be
followed.
For example, two-year-olds
respond to rules and are old enough to know that certain actions bring their
parents’ disapproval. Express strong disapproval if a child wanders away at the
mall. Two is also a good age to plant the idea that some actions require
permission.
Three-year-olds begin to understand
the concept of trust. Tell them exactly who they can turn to for specific kinds
of help — the babysitter, a neighbor, etc.
Four-year-olds are risk takers,
so it is an important time to reinforce safety rules and step up supervision. Children
at this age can begin to understand that not every person they meet is
trustworthy.
At five, children start school
and interact with new people, including older children who could be intimidating
or unkind. It’s a good time for parents to reinforce positive perceptions of
people.
By six, most children have
begun to develop intuition. This is the time to encourage them to trust their
own instincts: if something doesn’t feel
right, it probably isn’t.
Using instructions appropriate
for a child’s age helps make sure the directions will be followed.
